Friday, September 26, 2008

As I mentioned in a post yesterday, I've fallen really behind in my challenges, partly because many of the books I picked haven't been appealing to me. This was especially irritating for two of my challenges because I've only got 2 books to go on each. Since I can't stand to start a project and not finish it (even though I do that quite often), I decided to see if I could find replacement books that might work better.

For the 10 Out of 100 Challenge, I've decided to replace Intimacy by Hanif Kureishi for TheGround Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie and Youth by J. M. Coetzee for Shroud by John Banville (although I should say that I love Rushdie and am only changing that one because the book is just too long). I had also picked Shroud for the Booker Challenge and am going to replace it with Time's Arrow by Martin Amis. Hopefully, I'll be able to get into these new picks and I can finish up these 2 challenges on time.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Dewey is again hosting a 24-hour readathon, this one to be held on October 18 starting at 8 am EST. You can sign up and/or get more information here. There will again be mini-challenges and prizes, along with a great opportunity to catch up on some of your reading and to check out other blogs. You can sign up as a reader, a cheerleader, or both.

If you've never been a part of this before, I highly recommend it -- I participated last time and it was great (although I conked out and so didn't make it the full 24 hours). Check out the FAQ's on Dewey's blog to find out more. You can also see what the mini-challenges were about by clicking "readathon" from my list of labels -- I only participated in a few but it will give you a general idea.

The challenge this week is to catch up on something. It could be comments, challenges, other people's blogs, whatever. I'm terribly behind in my challenge reading, so that should be the perfect choice for me. The only problem is that I've totally lost interest in the books I picked. I've tried 3 or 4 of them in the last few days and just couldn't get into them. I think part of it may be the self-imposed pressure of feeling that I have to complete the challenges. I probably shouldn't have signed up for so many challenges, and I shouldn't sign up for any more in the near future. We'll see -- maybe I just need to take a break from them for a while.

Anyway, since catching up on challenge reading is out, I looked over my other options and decided to work on my list of prize-winning books. I'm a spreadsheet junkie and have previously put together one listing all the books that have won Booker, Pulitzer, and National Book Awards. When I sat down to think about what I want to read for the readathon (I'll post separately about that), I realized I'd need to go to the libary for some of them. That led to trying to figure out which ones were short enough to cover in 24 hours. So I decided that my master spreadsheet should include info on the number of pages and whether the library had them in audio format. Given the number of books on the spreadsheet, this isn't something that will be finished this week, but I'll get started anyway.

Like so many others, I wanted to extend a HUGE THANK-YOU to Amy for all the hard work she put in on BBAW. I can't speak for others, but I greatly enjoyed it and am already looking forward to next year's. It was a wonderful opportunity to find new book blogs to read -- I had no idea there were so many!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Shana at Literarily is giving away a copy of Jimmy Buffett's newest novel, Swine Not? It's described as follows on Amazon:

"Best-selling writer Jimmy Buffett weaves an irresistible new tale---filled with colorful characters, wry humor, and the pursuit of a very clever pig.

When Southern belle Ellie McBride moves her twins from Vertigo, Tennessee to New York City, they wouldn't dream of leaving behind the family pig Rumpy. But the posh hotel where Ellie has found work (and living space) has "No Pets" writ large on its portal. So hiding Rumpy from the hotel staff---especially the ultra-carnivorous hotel chef, who would like nothing better than to transform their pet into pork roast---becomes imperative."

Bethany over at B & b ex libris is giving away this intriguing sounding book. Amazon describes the book as follows:

"Sweeping and lyrical, spellbinding and unforgettable, David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife combines epic historical fiction with a modern murder mystery to create a brilliant novel of literary suspense.

It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of a family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how a young woman became a plural wife.

Soon after Ann Eliza’s story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfolds–a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. Jordan Scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his father’s death.

And as Ann Eliza’s narrative intertwines with that of Jordan’s search, readers are pulled deeper into the mysteries of love and faith."

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, go by Bethany's blog and check it out!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Christine over at She Reads Books recently reviewed this book and it sounds fascinating. The basic plot summary that she provided is as follows:

"In the Land of Invisible Women is the memoir of a British-born, American-trained female Muslim doctor, Qanta Ahmed. After being unexpectedly denied a Visa to stay un the United States, she decided — on a whim — to continue her practise in Saudi Arabia. The book is her account of the years that she spent there, before eventually moving back home to the States, after 9/11. Lots of things are covered, from her medical practise, to aspects of Saudi culture, to the growth of her faith."

This sounds like one of those books that is definitely up my alley. I'll be adding it to my TBR pile and would be interested in hearing what others have thought about it -- so if you have read it, please comment and let me know what you thought!

Monday, September 15, 2008

If you follow along for the festivities of BBAW at My Friend Amy, you will find many chances to win LOTS of goodies! Like what? Well have a look below. All of these things will be given away between September 15-19. There will be a huge variety of ways to win them and giveaways will be announced constantly throughout the week. So be sure to check in often!

Win a Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit!Do you find it's your turn to host book club and not only do you not know what to serve but you don't know what books to offer up for the next month's selection?! Let Book Club Girl come to your rescue with the Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit.

One lucky winner of the kit will receive:

* A basket of cheese, crackers, cookies and wine for up to 12 people* 5 great book group books to vote on for your group's next pick. And Book Club Girl will then donate 12 copies whichever book is chosen for your entire group to read.* 12 Book Club Girl mousepads to give out as party favors that night* 12 Book Club Girl bookmarks to mark everyone's favorite passages* 12 Book Club Girl coasters to protect your coffee table from all those wine glasses!

BOOKSMistress of the Revolution by Catherine DelorsThe Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings EwenThe Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-LaxJohn's Quest by Cecelia DowdyConfessions of a Contractor by Richard MurphyAcedia & Me by Kathleen NorrisThe Wordy Shipmates by Sarah VowellThe Lucky One by Nicholas SparksThe Book of Lies by Brad MeltzerSupreme Courtship by Christopher BuckleyA Tale Out of Luck by Willie Nelson with Mike BlakelyThe Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen KentWhen Will There Be Good News by Kate AtkinsonAn Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCrackenExit Music by Ian RankinThe Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnikGunmetal Black by Daniel SerranoIsolation by Travis ThrasherThe Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May VanderbiltEvery Freaking! Day With Rachell Ray by Elizabeth HiltsDewey by Vicki MyronThe Shiniest Jewel by Marian HenleyKeep the Faith by Faith EvansThe Book of Calamities by Peter TrachtenbergA is for Atticus by Lorilee CrakerAfter the Fire by Robin Gaby FisherMike's Election Guide by Michael MooreWar as They Knew It by Michael RosenbergFixing Hell By Col. (ret.) Larry C. JamesWild Boy: My Life with Duran Duran by Andy TaylorThe Last Under-Cover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil By Bob HamerBorder Lass by Amanda ScottInsatiable Desire by Rita HeronHungry for More by Diana HolquistFree Food for Millionaires by Min Jin LeeTrespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Emerson HancockHe Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish RyanNever Surrender by General Jerry BoykinDream in Color by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Congresswoman Loretta SánchezBeyond Belief by Josh HamiltonCobain Unseen by Charles R. CrossDoing Business in 21st Century India by Gunjan BaglaBranding Only Works on Cattle by Jonathan Salem BaskinLaunching a Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady, Orrin WoodwardHow to Hear from God by Joyce MeyerKnowing Right from Wrong by Thomas D. WilliamsPope John Paul II: An Intimate Life by Caroline PigozziPure by Rebecca St. JamesHe Loves Me! by Wayne JacobsonSo You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobson and Dave ColemanMove On, Move Up by Paula WhiteThe Rosary by Gary JansenShoot the Moon by Billie LettsThe Choice by Nicholas SparksRight Livelihoods by Rick Moodyby George by Wesley StaceThe Almost Moon by Alice SeboldTrunk Music by Michael ConnellyHollywood Crows by Joseph WambaughDead Boys by Richard LangeThe Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine LopezSisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones GunnBeyond the Night by Marlo SchaleskyWith Endless Sight by Allison PittmanHarlequin Titles: To Be Announced

Many other blogs are giving away books and prizes for BBAW as well! You can see the links to all of these giveaways here.

Interested in gaining entries into the daily raffles? Post this complete list on your blog with links and you'll earn two extra entries!